TURKEY, PEACE TALKS AND THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY (PKK)

Early day motion 151, tabled 21 May 2013 by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour). Signed by 19 members.

That this House welcomes the start of direct talks between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan as offering the prospect of a peaceful political resolution of the Kurdish conflict that has raged on for nearly 30 years; acknowledges that the withdrawal of units of Kurdish PKK guerrillas from Turkish territory is a significant step towards a permanent cessation of hostilities and an important gesture of goodwill on the part of the Kurdish side; and calls on the Government to seek a review of anti-terrorism legislation and the proscription of the PKK in order to remove an obstacle that stands in the way of finding a negotiated settlement between the two parties of the conflict.

Signatures by party: Labour 8, Liberal Democrat 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Green 1, Independent 1.